Inside the Mob Attack on Ayivu Division Leaders over Odramacaku Market Closure in Arua City

A meeting meant to discuss the phased reopening of Odramacaku Border Market in Arua City on Monday turned violent after an angry mob attacked Ayivu Division leaders and security personnel, leaving two people injured and several vehicles damaged.

The incident happened in the morning at Odramacaku Trading Centre, along the Uganda-DR Congo border in Ayivu West Division.

The violence reportedly followed allegations by the local community that the authorities were deliberately keeping the Odramacaku animal market closed while promoting another animal market at Onduparaka.

Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Ayivu Division, Mbigutti Godfrey Jonah, and Ayivu Division Mayor, Malon Avutia, had gone to the area with their team to conduct a survey to reopen the market in phases.

But the engagement quickly turned chaotic when some members of the community became angry over what they described as efforts to shift their animal market to Onduparaka.

The crowd reportedly started throwing stones at the leaders and their entourage, forcing security officers to evacuate them to Odramacaku Police Station for safety.

The angry crowd followed them to the police station and allegedly demanded that the Deputy RCC and Mayor be handed over to them, with threats that they would be lynched.

Police responded by firing bullets into the air to disperse the crowd, but two residents, identified as Feta Fred and Andama Benson from Nunu Cell in Anzu Ward sustained injuries from stray bullets.

The mob also smashed glasses of three vehicles, with registration numbers UG 3331C, UP 5724 and UBM 718L.

While briefing the media after the incident, Ayivu Division Mayor, Avutia Malon condemned the attack, describing it as false information that they were creating a new animal market at Onduparaka in order to replace the Odramacaku market. “There was actually no target for us as leaders. Some people alleged that I had started a livestock market at Onduparaka here, aiming to destroy the market of Odamacaku without people verifying this information, many of them believed on account that every time they attempted to come to the market for them, they were chased.” Malon explained,

He also blamed what he called incitement by individuals who allegedly spread the information among the community.

“Our going there was to ascertain and to assess the situation on ground based on the complaints we had received. People said it is good that the government has taken a stand to make sure that we fight Ebola together. But now, if their market is stopped, but the Congo side is allowed to operate, and three quarters of the people who go to that market come from Uganda, why is the law being applied selectively?”

He added, “The same security personnel who enforce that people should not sit here in the market are the same security personnel who allow traders to go and trade on combo side.”

Police say cases of assault, malicious damage to motor vehicles, theft and unlawful wounding have been opened, while investigations are ongoing to identify those involved.

SSP Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Police spokesperson said no arrests have been made by Tuesday, but investigators had already recorded statements from witnesses. “Police opened cases of assault, malicious damage to motor vehicles, thefts, and unlawful wounding to investigate the matter. No arrests have been made yet, but investigations are going on to identify and bring the lawbreakers before the law.” Angucia explained.

She said the officers already deployed at the border were mainly there to enforce Ebola prevention measures, leaving the team with limited personnel when the situation escalated.

“The angry mob followed and forcefully demanded the release of the deputy RCC and the mayor, such that they could be lynched. This made the security forces to discharge bullets to disperse the rowdy crowd, hence stray bullets injuring two people.”

The investigations are being conducted under Odramacaku Police Post Station Diary Reference 10/10/08/2026.